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• November is the last full month of the football season (and, in somewhat-related news, the first month of the college basketball season). Most teams are deep into the final third of their schedule, though the last game for the best won't come until December or January. The gap between the final regular season contest and the bowl or playoff games is a lengthy one, filled with practice and, yes, hype. But the worst part of the season-ending run is realizing the seniors will be gone next year. Sometimes it is the stars, the Deone Bucannons, the Connor Hallidays (whose season ended way too soon) of the world. But sometimes it is seniors who played minor roles, guys whose names were rarely in the paper but who were the fabric and glue of the team. Every college has them. They may be starting offensive linemen – the witness-protection program of college football – or a backup safety. Either way, they contributed for at least four years at practice, in the locker room and in the classroom, building the foundation of the program. More often than not these days they stick around for five years, finishing their degree and spending a mid-career season not playing on Saturdays. But practice never stops and neither do the weights, study halls, running, video and other time-consuming chores. So when a player has been around six years, earning those extra seasons for the worst of reasons, injuries, you throw all those items into the mix, add in rehab and just say, wow. Such is the case with Ronnie Hamlin (pictured), Eastern Washington's linebacker who is just a tackle away from the school record. Hamlin is hard to miss on the field, what with his long, flowing hair that cascades out of his helmet as he chases another ball carrier. And he's hard to miss for another reason: He's always around the pile at the end of the play. Most of the time he's on the bottom, chalking up another tackle. Jim Allen has a feature in today's S-R that pays tribute to the Eagles' Samson, but mere stories never can catch the essence of how hard it is to play college football for four, five or, in Hamlin's case, six years. It's not a job, but it is. It's a job with at least two components, football and school. Hamlin is collecting two majors, two tough majors (to find out what they are, read Jim's story). If he's not doing a football-related task, he's more than likely busy with a school-related one. He's what college football players are supposed to be, except for one thing. He's stuck around a little bit longer than normal. No problem. He's fun to watch. And he'll be missed whenever Eastern's season comes to a close.

• By the way, I am certain there are some S-R stories missing from the on-line presentation this morning. I have looked and looked and can't find some pieces, mainly prep stories. Sorry.

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• WSU: Rahmel Dockery (pictured) was one of the flashiest players former coach Paul Wulff ever recruited. But the athletic receiver – or cornerback – from Tacoma never really clicked under Mike Leach at WSU and transferred. Now he's playing a lot for Oregon State, which hosts WSU this Saturday. Jacob Thorpe has this piece on Dockery and his transfer. ... Jacob also has a practice report, a blog post on a player finally finding his way to Pullman and a morning post with links. ... Oregon State has a lot to play for and you have a lot to watch in that game, in the Pac-12 and around the nation. ... Another power ranking and a few picks.

• Gonzaga: Tyler Haws is trying to catch Jimmer on the BYU scoring lists and the Zags in the standings.

• EWU: Besides the Hamlin feature, Jim also held a live chat yesterday on the blog.

• Idaho: It was a sad day in the Palouse yesterday as the Vandals lost a member of their football staff to cancer. John Blanchette has the story.

• Preps: Chris Derrick has an advance of the volleyball regional action on tap this weekend. ... We also can offer photos from Central Valley's loss to Southridge and University's rout of Hanford. ... Finally, there is a nice feature in today's S-R on a couple of players from the area that are meeting again in college.

• Chiefs: Spokane said hello to a familiar face yesterday, claiming former Chief Jackson Playfair from waivers. ... There are features from Tri-City and Everett today to pass along.

• Seahawks: Besides the injuries, which continue to plague the team and might even have gotten a foothold with the best offensive player, Marshawn Lynch, the biggest worry right now is the play of quarterback Russell Wilson. The third-year player said yesterday he thinks he knows what's been wrong. It's in his feet. ... The injuries may have helped the Hawks develop even more depth. It's also opened the door for some new players, one with ties to a rival. ... The defense is starting to figure things out again.

• Mariners: Robinson Cano didn't win a Gold Glove nor a Silver Slugger. He'll have to be satisfied with the platinum chain (or whatever metal it is) he wears. ... Guess who is up for the Rays' managerial post? Raul Ibanez. Yep. ... I'm not sure I believe this, but it's fun to read anyway.

• Sounders: The Sounders' home playoff game on Monday night is sold out. Impressive? Not as much as it could be. Only the lower bowl was sold. Really? Seems as if they left a lot of money on the table. ... The Sounders newest homegrown player has traveled far and has skills – and some goals. ... If the Galaxy lose this weekend, it's the end for Landon Donovan. My old friend, Kevin Baxter, has a really nice feature on Donovan (pictured) in the LA Times.

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• It's Friday already? And the college footballs season is winding down? Where does the time go? Until later ...